During June of 2017, the Commission of Fine Arts (CFA) and the Citizens Coinage Advisory Committee (CCAC) reviewed 12 design proposals for the reverse of the new 2018 Block Island National Wildlife Refuge quarter. This coin will be the 45th issue of the 2010-2021 National Park Quarter Series, and the design will commemorate a critical migratory bird stopover located 12 miles off the southern coast of Rhode Island which is visited each year by over 70 different species of migratory birds.

The CFA recommended design #2 depicting a black-crowned night-heron flying over the beach at Cow Cove with a view towards Sandy Point and the North Light lighthouse. This design was also preferred by officials of the Block Island National Wildlife Refuge. The CCAC recommended design #10 depicting a piping plover on the rocky beach in front of the North Light lighthouse (the third-choice design of refuge officials). Other design proposals featured such migratory bird species as American oystercatchers and common yellowthroat warblers.

After consideration of all recommendations by the CFA, CCAC and refuge officials, the U.S. Mint submitted a selection of favored designs to the Secretary of the Treasury – who will choose the final design for the 2018 Block Island quarter design.